House blast kills 7 in Gaza Strip

BEIT LAHIYA, GAZA STRIP — An explosion Thursday flattened a house in the Gaza Strip, killing seven people. The militant group Hamas initially blamed Israel and unleashed a barrage of rockets and mortar shells, but later suggested that the blast was accidental.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said the military was not operating in the area at the time of the blast.

“We deny any connection to this incident,” Maj. Avital Leibovich said.

Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida said there would be an investigation and the results would be made public.

The statement was taken as an acknowledgment that the blast probably was accidental. Dozens of militants have been killed while handing explosives in recent years.

Hamas said the blast killed a 4-month-old girl, a senior aide to the interior minister and five militants.

The owner of the house, Hamas area commander Ahmed Hamouda, was not home.

Also Thursday, Israeli soldiers killed two militants in a clash in northern Gaza, and Moaiya Hassanain of the Gaza Health Ministry said one person was killed by an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza. The Israeli military said aircraft struck a rocket squad.

Later, three militants were killed by Israeli artillery fire that hit northern Gaza, Hassanain said.